Rhipsalidopsis plant named &#39;BCSU-97-002&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of the Cactaceae family produced by a controlled cross named ‘BCSU-97.002’. ‘BCSU-97.002’ has a strong growth habit, a “red” colored bloom, a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning, erect stems, and blooming flowers that last for two weeks on the plant.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Rhipsalidopsis hybrid.

Varietal denomination:

The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘BCSU-97.002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Cactaceae family. The new variety is a Rhipsalidopsis hybrid named ‘BCSU-97.002’ by the inventor. The inventor is Louis Paduch, a citizen of the United States.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety was produced by the inventor through a controlled hybridization process from commercial varieties. The parent plants have not been patented or otherwise formally identified.

The flower is multi-toned.

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations.

The new variety possesses the desirable characteristics of: a strong growth habit with erect stems; a multi-colored bloom; relatively large flowers; and a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning.

Blooming flowers on the plant can last as long as two weeks at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperatures slow down the rate at which buds mature into flowers. Strong light is also necessary for bud development.

The new variety has asexually reproduced by the inventor and under the direction of the inventor at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The new variety has been asexually reproduced through successive generations by cuttings, and it has been found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, to illustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of several individuals of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, and the abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

FIG. 3 is color photograph of a several flowers of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of the top of a flowering stem of the new variety.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of the base of several plants of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of one individual plant grown for commercial sale removed from its soil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to the R.H.S. Color Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The plants observed were grown in 6″ pots. The observed plants are ready for commercial sale.

Multiple cuttings were placed in each pot. Most cuttings had six levels of phylloclades, including the basal phylloclade that was inserted in the dirt, with buds at the top of the highest phylloclades.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants.

The plants were started in green houses at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months.

The plants started as cuttings taken as entire phylloclades. Cuttings were dried in flats for four weeks to harden. Multiple cuttings were then placed in the same pot. The cuttings were kept under glass while they were rooting. At night, the plants were kept at an average temperature of approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the day, the plants were allowed to get as hot as 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cuttings generally take a month to begin producing roots and then another month to fully root.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

-   Varietal Name: ‘BCSU-97.002’. Classification: Family—Cactaceae.     Genus and Species—Rhipsalidopsis hybrid. Parentage: un-named     individuals that are also Rhipsalidopsis hybrids. -   Form: Terrestrial, shade-loving, succulent, leafless plant with     jointed and branched stems. Stems: General—Irregular stems of     multi-branching upright, adventitiously rootable, flattened     phylloclades. Plants observed had stems that generally consisted of     6 levels of phylloclades. Their stems branch at multiple levels,     usually with 1 to 3 branches growing out of the apex of the     phylloclade. The flattened phylloclades have a fairly prominent     midrib (especially in phylloclades at the base of mature plants) and     weakly toothed lateral wings. The observed plants were 8″ to 9″     high. -   Phylloclades—General: Mature phylloclades are generally oblong,     elongated, and flattened with wings, and have a transversely     elongated, areole bearing, truncated apex. From the transversely     elongated apex, the wing margins generally run straight or taper     slightly to the basal portions (or occasionally they flare outwardly     somewhat), where they then taper and merge through a pointed, basal     juncture with the phylloclade therebelow. The margins of the wings     are also weakly toothed or weakly crenate and an axillary areole is     associated with each blunt tooth. Immature phylloclades are often     not flattened, but four-angled, having multiple ribs terminating at     axillary areoles. The apex of the phylloclade is transversely     elongated, and areole bearing with compound areoles. The lateral     margins typically have 3 to 4 alternately spaced axillary areoles.     Midrib: A somewhat prominent midrib extends longitudinally of the     phylloclade and continuously through the joints. Texture:     Phylloclades have a smooth, waxy epidermis. Wax in basal     phylloclades and phylloclades inserted in the ground becoming thick,     corky and translucent with age. First phylloclade above basal     phylloclade will often have thick corky wax at its base and along up     its midrib part way. Size: Phylloclades are usually between 40 mm     and 50 mm long, with young phylloclades as short as 20 mm.     Phylloclades bearing flowers can be as short as 32 mm long.     Phylloclades are generally 4 mm thick at the midrib, and tapering to     1 mm thick at the margins. Phylloclades are generally 13 to 25 mm at     their widest point. Color: Mature phylloclades are R.H.S. 139B     (green group) while immature phylloclades are a brighter green:     R.H.S. 143A (green group). Some phylloclades can have dark margins,     with the midrib and base of the phylloclade being lighter. Areoles:     Terminal areole—Large, compound, elongated, oval-shaped with several     acicular bristles, and several buds that may mature into either new     phylloclades or flowers. The opposite ends of the areole are located     adjacent to subsidiary areoles which are in turn located at the     axils of the uppermost blunt teeth located at the distal ends of the     phylloclade. The acicular bristles are mostly upright (some bent)     bristles in clumps which can be as long as 9 mm and as short as     2 mm. Mature bristles are R.H.S. 177A (greyed-orange group).     Axiallary areoles—Typically there are 3 axial areoles on each side     of the phylloclade. Typically these areoles have no or very minute     acicular bristles without glochidia Blunt teeth are also found with     the axiallary areoles. -   Buds: General—Unarmored and ovid. Color of tepals of buds are     generally R.H.S. 47 B (red group). From 1 to 6 flower buds can form     on the elongated terminal areole of the uppermost phylloclades. Most     of the buds on the uppermost phylloclades will fall of the plant     before the flowers bloom; however, when the plant is in full bloom     it is common for the uppermost phylloclade to have only 1 flower. No     buds on the second highest phylloclade of a branch. -   Flowers: General—Sessile, actinomorphic, terminal, perfect and     epigynous with tepals (undifferentiated whorled sepals and petals)     having a spiral emergence as a perianth. Perianth, androecium and     gynoecium will wither attached to the ovary. Perianth—General: Free,     whorled tepals inserted on top of the ovary. Tepals become more     reflexed as the flower ages. When the flower is mature there are     often 5 very small sepals whose color is from R.H.S 47 B (red     group). As many as 20 tepals on a flower. Shape: Lanceolate with     entire margins and very acute tips. Texture: Glabrous. Size: Largest     tepals of mature flower is 32 mm. Fully opened flower generally has     a diameter of 5.1 cm. Color: Tepals are thin. Tepals are variegated     in color on both sides. The base of tepals on both the abaxial and     adaxial sides is R.H.S. 29B (orange group). The color of the tepals     darkens to R.H.S. 48D (red group) at the tops of both the abaxial     and adaxial surfaces. The abaxial surfaces of the tepals have     centered strips of darker pigment that is R.H.S. 50A (red group).     The tips of the tepals on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces are     also R.H.S. 50A (red group). Androecium (stamens).—General: Numerous     stamens (often more than 70) with outermost stamens having filaments     basally fused to the perianth. Filaments are basally attached to the     anther. Stamens are inserted with respect to the sepals, but become     exserted as the tepals become reflexed. Pollen color: R.H.S. 7 A     (yellow group). Texture: Filament is glabrous. Size: Stamen     filaments are approximately 5 to 15 mm long, and the anthers are     approximately 1 mm long. Color: the tops of the stamens are R.H.S.     41B (red group) and the color fades to R.H.S. 158B (yellow-white     group) at the base of the stamens. Gynoecium (pistil).—General:     Compound ovary with parietal placentation (generally 5 carpels),     having a united style, that is of equal length as largest stamens,     and inserted in tepals, but becoming exserted as tepals become     reflexed. Style: R.H.S 158C (yellow-white group) at base with R.H.S.     49D (red group) below. Length: 12 mm. Texture: glabrous. Stigma:     Erect and becomes reflexed as it ages with usually 5 lobes (but     there can be as many as 8 lobes) Color: R.H.S. 158 C (yellow-white     group) on the abaxial side. Ovary: General—Compound ovary with a     single cavity and parietal placentation and generally 5 carpels,     with numerous ovules. The ovary is inferior and obovate to terete     with five angles and generally broadening from insertion to floral     end. Generally, mature ovaries have a diameter of about 7 mm.     Color—two colors—ribs are a R.H.S. 53 A (red group) and between the     ribs the ovary is R.H.S. 147 B (yellow-green group). -   Bloom life.—two to three weeks when forced. -   Fruit.—General: ovaries wither and fall from phylloclades with     flower. 

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct hybrid plant of the Cactaceae family substantially as herein shown and described. 